{{Otheruses|''This is the '''Boy Scout {{PAGENAME}} Award'''.<br>Boy Scouts can also earn the [[Lifesaving]] and [[Swimming]] merit badges.<br>Venturers can also work on the [[Lifesaver (Ranger Award elective)|Lifesaver]] Ranger Award elective<br>The [[Lifesaving and Meritorious Action Awards]] may be awarded at any level.''}}

#Only those persons currently trained as BSA Aquatics Instructor or as BSA Lifeguard Instructor may train the completion of BSA Lifeguard requirements.

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#Training as BSA Lifeguard is valid for three years from the date of application.

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#All requirements must be met. (See completion options.)

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#The completed application is sent to the local council service center where BSA Lifeguard emblems may be purchased.

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#To qualify for BSA Lifeguard, the candidate must complete the BSA Lifeguard course under the direction of either a BSA Lifeguard Instructor or a BSA Aquatics Instructor. The course for the BSA Lifeguard is in the ''BSA Lifeguard Instructor Manual''.

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== Notes ==

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== BSA Lifeguard Retraining ==

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=== BSA Lifeguard training procedure ===

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To renew BSA Lifeguard, a person who previously has a completion card can complete the regular BSA Lifeguard course, passing each of the requirements. Those whose BSA Lifeguard training is current or has expired within the past six months may renew or extend the training by “challenging” the course requirements without attending the standard class sessions. The instructor may provide a short review or skills recheck prior to the testing. Summer camp aquatics directors should renew training for aquatics staff members during pre-camp training while emphasizing local camp facilities, procedures and emergency action plan(s). See completion options under “BSA Lifeguard Requirements.”

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#Only those persons currently certified as BSA Aquatics Instructor or as BSA Lifeguard Counselor may train the completion of BSA Lifeguard requirements.

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#Training as BSA Lifeguard is valid for three<font color=red><b>*</b></font color> years from the date of application.

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#All requirements must be met - no substitutions or omissions are permitted.

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#The completed application is sent to the local council service center where BSA Lifeguard emblems may be purchased.

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#To qualify for BSA Lifeguard, the candidate must complete the BSA Lifeguard course consisting of a minimum of 30 hours under the direction of either a BSA Lifeguard Counselor or a BSA Aquatics Instructor. The course for the BSA Lifeguard is in the BSA Lifeguard Counselor Guide.

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:''<b>*</b> Note: "Safe Swim Defense" and "Safety Afloat" are valid for only two years.''

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=== BSA Lifeguard retraining ===

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*Those whose BSA Lifeguard training is current or has expired within the past 12 months can be retrained by demonstrating a current knowledge of and ability to perform the skills necessary to fulfill BSA Lifeguard requirements. It is not necessary to retake the BSA Lifeguard course.

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==Instructor's Responsibility==

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Scouts, Venturers, or adults who become trained BSA Lifeguards must be well-qualified and able to use their knowledge as a lifeguard in case of need without undue danger to themselves and with a reasonable chance of success. The instructors are responsible for the strict interpretation of requirements and the elimination of applicants who in their judgment are

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not qualified by strength, judgment, or ability to put their knowledge into practice as lifeguards.

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The reputation of the instructors as experts depends to a great extent on the actual performance of those they qualify. Therefore, they should be certain that the candidate’s ability is, without doubt, of the highest caliber. It is expected that the BSA Lifeguard emblem and card will always stand for a very high standard of skill. The instructors to whom this responsibility

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is entrusted are expected to maintain that standard. For interpretation of requirements, see BSA Lifeguard Instructor Manual, No. 34519.

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*Otherwise, to be retrained as BSA Lifeguard, a person who previously has been trained can complete the regular BSA Lifeguard course, passing each of the requirements.

The primary purpose of this training program is no longer to provide units with the skills necessary to conduct safe swimming and boating activities. Swimming and Water Rescue and Paddle Craft Safety are two new programs designed to meet that need. This revised BSA Lifeguard program is now focused on the need to provide professional lifeguards for BSA-operated facilities, council aquatics committees, and year-round aquatics programming with training that meets the requirements of government agencies at regulated swimming venues. The program is open to all registered adults and older youth (age 15 and older). BSA Lifeguard is recommended for aquatics staff lifeguard training and for those who wish to work as lifeguards for BSA year-round aquatics programs, or who are supporting council aquatics committees, as the next step beyond the Aquatics Supervision programs for unit leaders.

BSA Lifeguard requirements

Prerequisites

A. Before doing requirements 6 through 25, complete the following:
1. Submit proof of age. You must be at least 15 years old to participate.
2. Submit written evidence of fitness for swimming activities (signed health history).
3. Swim continuously for 550 yards, including at least 100 yards each of the following strokes in good form: front crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke.
4. Immediately following the above swim, tread water for two minutes.
5. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using a front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, surface, swim with the object 20 yards back to the starting point with both hands holding the object, and exit the water, all within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Requirements

B. Complete the following requirements within a 120-day period:
6. Show evidence of current certification in American Red Cross First Aid and American Red Cross CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer or equivalent (includes any training for a camp health officer recognized by BSA national camp standards).
7. Demonstrate reaching assists from the deck using an arm, a rescue tube, and a pole.
8. Demonstrate throwing assists using a throw bag and a ring buoy with a line attached. Throw each device such that the line lands within reach of a conscious subject 30 feet from shore.
9. Demonstrate:

a) Rescue of a conscious subject in deep water using a rescue board, kayak, rowboat, canoe, or other rescue craft that would be available at your local facility.

b) Repeat for an unconscious subject.

10. Demonstrate an entry and front approach with a rescue tube to a conscious subject in deep water 30 feet away from shore. Position the rescue tube to support the subject and then assist the subject to safety, providing direction and reassurance throughout.
11. Demonstrate an entry and rear approach with a rescue tube to a conscious subject in deep water 30 feet away from shore. Secure and support the subject from behind and then move the subject to safety, providing direction and reassurance throughout.
12. Demonstrate use of a rescue tube to assist two subjects grasping each other. Secure, support and reassure both subjects. With the assistance of a second guard, calm and separate the subjects and move them to safety.
13. Demonstrate both front and rear head-hold escapes from a subject’s grasp.minutes. Immediately perform a primary assessment and demonstrate one-person CPR for 3 minutes.
14. Demonstrate a feet-first entry in deep water with a rescue tube and swim an approach stroke 25 yards within 25 seconds while trailing the tube.
15. Demonstrate an entry and front approach with a rescue tube to a face-down passive subject 30 feet away at or near the surface in deep water. Use a wrist roll to position the subject face-up on
the rescue tube, tow to safety, and remove them from the water with assistance within two minutes. Immediately perform a primary assessment and demonstrate one-person CPR for 3 minutes.
16. Demonstrate an entry and rear approach with a rescue tube to a face-down unconscious subject 30 feet away at or near the surface in deep water. Position the subject face-up, tow to safety, and remove them from the water with assistance within two minutes. Immediately perform a primary assessment and demonstrate two-person CPR for 3 minutes.
17. Demonstrate in-water ventilation of an unconscious subject when prompt removal from the water is not possible. Open the airway, position the mask, and simulate ventilations.
18. Demonstrate an entry and approach with a rescue tube for use when an unconscious subject is submerged face-down at or near the bottom in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bring the subject to the surface and tow to the nearest point of safety.
19. Remove a subject from the water using each of the following techniques in the appropriate circumstances with the aid of a second rescuer:

21. Demonstrate in-line stabilization for a face-down subject with suspected spinal injury in very shallow water (18 inches or less).
22. Demonstrate in-line stabilization for a suspected spinal injury in shallow water (waist to chest deep):

a) For a face-up subject

b) For a face-down subject.

23. Demonstrate in-line stabilization for a suspected spinal injury in deep water, swim the subject to shallow water, confirm vital signs, and with the assistance of three others, remove the subject from the water using a backboard with straps and a head immobilization device.
24. Demonstrate care for a spinal injury on land in the following situations

a) Non-standing subject

b) Standing subject including securing to a backboard and lowering to the ground.

25. Correctly answer 80 percent of the questions on the BSA Lifeguard knowledge test covering the course material. Review any incomplete or incorrect answers.
26. Serve as a lifeguard, under supervision, for at least two separate BSA swimming activities for a combined time of two hours. Afterward, discuss the experience with the lifeguarding instructor.

Completion Options

Course completion cards are valid only when signed by either a current BSA Aquatics Instructor or BSA Lifeguard Instructor approved by the local council. Training is valid for two years, provided First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer training are kept current during that period.
There are four ways to obtain a course completion card:

Course Completion — Complete all requirements in the instructor manual during a scheduled course of instruction. The participant must attend all course sessions. Makeup sessions are allowed at the instructor’s discretion. If an individual is unable to complete all requirements during the scheduled course, the instructor may elect to continue training until the participant is able to complete all the requirements provided the total elapsed time from start to finish does not exceed the 120-day period.

Renewal Challenge — Anyone with a BSA Lifeguard completion card that is current or has expired within six months may renew or extend the training by performing requirements 2 through 24 without attending the standard course sessions. Prior to the testing, the instructor may provide a renewal training session to review and update skills and information. Summer camp aquatics directors should renew training for aquatics staff members during precamp training while emphasizing local camp facilities, procedures, and emergency action plans.

Crossover Challenge — Anyone who holds current training in American Red Cross Lifeguarding, American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguarding, or other lifeguard training programs may obtain a BSA Lifeguard completion card by performing requirements 1 through 25 without attending the standard course sessions. The lifeguard training program that issued the training certificate must be recognized by the local or state regulatory agency that sets standards for lifeguards at youth camps. The instructor may provide a crossover training session to review and update skills and information prior to the testing. The applicant may receive credit for requirement 26 if within the past 18 months he or she has served as a lifeguard, under supervision, or has supervised lifeguards, for at least two separate BSA swimming activities for a combined time of two hours. Otherwise, due to BSA procedures not implemented at other lifeguarding venues, the applicant must accomplish requirement 25.

The text of these requirements may be locked. In that case, they can only be edited by an administrator.Please note any errors found in the above requirements on this article's Talk Page.

BSA Lifeguard Training Procedure

Only those persons currently trained as BSA Aquatics Instructor or as BSA Lifeguard Instructor may train the completion of BSA Lifeguard requirements.

Training as BSA Lifeguard is valid for three years from the date of application.

All requirements must be met. (See completion options.)

The completed application is sent to the local council service center where BSA Lifeguard emblems may be purchased.

To qualify for BSA Lifeguard, the candidate must complete the BSA Lifeguard course under the direction of either a BSA Lifeguard Instructor or a BSA Aquatics Instructor. The course for the BSA Lifeguard is in the BSA Lifeguard Instructor Manual.

BSA Lifeguard Retraining

To renew BSA Lifeguard, a person who previously has a completion card can complete the regular BSA Lifeguard course, passing each of the requirements. Those whose BSA Lifeguard training is current or has expired within the past six months may renew or extend the training by “challenging” the course requirements without attending the standard class sessions. The instructor may provide a short review or skills recheck prior to the testing. Summer camp aquatics directors should renew training for aquatics staff members during pre-camp training while emphasizing local camp facilities, procedures and emergency action plan(s). See completion options under “BSA Lifeguard Requirements.”

Instructor's Responsibility

Scouts, Venturers, or adults who become trained BSA Lifeguards must be well-qualified and able to use their knowledge as a lifeguard in case of need without undue danger to themselves and with a reasonable chance of success. The instructors are responsible for the strict interpretation of requirements and the elimination of applicants who in their judgment are
not qualified by strength, judgment, or ability to put their knowledge into practice as lifeguards.

The reputation of the instructors as experts depends to a great extent on the actual performance of those they qualify. Therefore, they should be certain that the candidate’s ability is, without doubt, of the highest caliber. It is expected that the BSA Lifeguard emblem and card will always stand for a very high standard of skill. The instructors to whom this responsibility
is entrusted are expected to maintain that standard. For interpretation of requirements, see BSA Lifeguard Instructor Manual, No. 34519.

The primary purpose of this training program is no longer to provide units with the skills necessary to conduct safe swimming and boating activities. Swimming and Water Rescue and Paddle Craft Safety are two new programs designed to meet that need. This revised BSA Lifeguard program is now focused on the need to provide professional lifeguards for BSA-operated facilities, council aquatics committees, and year-round aquatics programming with training that meets the requirements of government agencies at regulated swimming venues. The program is open to all registered adults and older youth (age 15 and older). BSA Lifeguard is recommended for aquatics staff lifeguard training and for those who wish to work as lifeguards for BSA year-round aquatics programs, or who are supporting council aquatics committees, as the next step beyond the Aquatics Supervision programs for unit leaders.